LION killer Walter Palmer illegally killed a bear and then lied about where it was slain, in a bid to cover up the crime.

The loathed US dentist, 55, who has sparked an international hate campaign after being unmasked as Cecil the lion's crossbow executioner, was fined £1,900 ($2,938) after admitting lying to federal agents about where he killed a black bear.

The case has remarkable similarities to the allegations being made in connection with the death of Cecil who is said to have been killed in an illegal area with claims Palmer was aided by other hunters said to have been paid £35,000 ($55,000).

Palmer's bear felony dates back to the 2006 killing of the beast in Wisconsin.

US court records show that, at the time, hunting of bears was only permitted in three specified areas in Wisconsin.

Palmer was then licensed only to kill them in one of those regions known as subzone A1.

But the case files show he and other men took out the beast 40 miles away where it was not legal for them to hunt.

Rather than report the misdemeanour and face any consequences, the men conspired to falsely claim the creature had been killed in sub zone A.

Court papers say the incident happened just 29 days after Palmer received the hunting licence.

It said: "On September 30 2006, Palmer with the assistance of Chad Barth, Trent Waggoner, and others hunted and killed a black bear in Phillips in Price County, Wisconsin, at a location in Zone A, approximately 40 miles outside of sub zone A1."

The records state that after learning it was an illegal kill, Palmer, and the others agreed they would claim the bear had been killed off Taylor Lake Road, south of Mining, within the permitted zone.

Their deception involved moving the carcass from the true kill site to a registration station in the correct sub zone.

There Palmer also falsely filled out a registration stub, saying the bear had been killed nearby.

Palmer took the dead bear back to his Minnesota home to keep parts as a so-called "trophy".

The deception continued when special agents of the US Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case.

He continued to falsely maintain he killed the animal in sub zone A1 and believed he acted lawfully.

The records added: "In interviews with a special agent of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Palmer falsely stated that he believed he had shot the bear off Taylor Road and falsely stated that he thought the bear had been killed legally."

But he was charged with one count of making false statements to a federal agent and could have faced up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

However, Palmer then pleaded guilty and in February 2008 and was fined $2,938, placed on one year's probation, and the remains of the creature he kept were seized by the state.

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In interviews with a special agent of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Palmer falsely stated that he believed he had shot the bear off Taylor Road and falsely stated that he thought the bear had been killed legally

US court records

He denied making any lewd comments or touching her up, as she alleged, but settled the matter out of court. His action avoided a full hearing.

The agreement also involved him and staff at his practice undergoing sexual harassment training.

Cecil was slaughtered with a crossbow by prolific animal killer Palmer in June, who has previously bragged online about his twisted hunting exploits.

Zimbabwe Police want to speak to him and he could face charges in his native US it emerged today.

Theo Bronkhorst and Honest Ndlovu, who are accused of arranging the kill for Palmer, have been charged with illegal poaching and appeared in court in Zimbabwe yesterday.

It is alleged they removed Cecil from the Hwange national park in Zimbabwe where he lived, and where it was illegal to hunt, to Antoinette Farm, the game reserve where Cecil was allegedly shot dead.

It is owned by Ndlovu and Zimbabwean authorities claim it was also illegal to kill the lion there.

Cecil was allegedly finished off with a firearm before being skinned and beheaded to create another trophy for Palmer.

In a statement released on Wednesday Palmer said he believed the hunt he was on was legal and said: "I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favourite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt.

"I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."

Cecil was one of the world's most recognisable felines because of his rare black mane, and was the star attraction for the thousands of tourists who descend on the Hwange national park, every year.